President Trump on Wednesday made a direct pitch to Republican lawmakers facing competitive reelection battles: run on his record, and he will be there to help. Speaking at a White House Rose Garden dinner, Trump told the assembled GOP members that they have winning stories to share with voters in the final stretch of the midterm cycle, and that by doing so they will “win and you’re going to win big.”
Trump went further, promising to personally campaign in all 35 races that will determine whether Republicans hold the House and Senate. “I’m going to go to every one of those 35 places, and we’re going to see if we can get everyone elected,” he said, according to attendees.
The president highlighted two Senate contests in particular. In Alaska, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R) is facing a nonpartisan general election against former Rep. Mary Peltola (D) and Republican Dan J. Sullivan. Trump noted that Sullivan has his endorsement, which he said would help in a state where he remains popular.
In Texas, Trump is backing state Attorney General Ken Paxton in the GOP primary to succeed retiring Sen. John Cornyn (R), a race Trump has injected himself into despite not endorsing Cornyn. The president joked about Paxton’s appearance, saying voters “might not love his look” but that he is “the best attorney general in the country, perhaps.”
Trump’s push comes as his approval ratings remain mired in the low 30s, a historically weak position for a president heading into midterms. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week put his approval at 33 percent, while a University of Massachusetts Amherst survey had it at 32 percent. Key drivers of dissatisfaction include his handling of the cost of living and the ongoing conflict with Iran, which has pushed energy prices higher and contributed to inflation.
Trump acknowledged the political headwinds but insisted they are not his problem. “I’m not affected by the election,” he told reporters Wednesday. “Number one, I’m not running, but my party’s running, and I’m going to help my party. But I think my party respects the fact that we’re not allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
The president has previously urged voters to treat the midterms as if he were on the ballot, and he reiterated that message to lawmakers, saying there is “no reason for” them to lose based on his performance. But history is not on his side: the president’s party typically loses control of at least one chamber in midterm elections.
Trump’s campaign trail promises come as some GOP strategists worry about his drag on swing voters. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has publicly acknowledged that the Republican Senate majority is at risk amid Trump-related headwinds. Some Republicans have even opted to skip the upcoming Dallas convention, a sign of unease with the president’s brand.
On Iran, the White House has said it will not escalate military action until after the midterms, but Trump has signaled he expects the conflict to end soon. “I don’t think it’s going to last much longer,” he said this week. His decision to pause beef tariffs also drew scrutiny after a lobbying report, but the White House defended the move as part of a broader economic strategy.
Trump’s commitment to campaign heavily for Republicans is a bet that his base can offset his broader unpopularity. Whether that gamble pays off will be tested in November, when voters decide control of Congress.
